Arbeit Macht Frei
Josh Harvey (Junior)Arbeit macht frei! (Work shall make you free). The phrase keeps running laps through my brain, which has already been tormented and bombarded with images that humans should never have to see. I do believe, however, that it was and is a necessary evil. The small children singing of the terrible things that happened to die Kinder (children) during the Holocaust brought tears to my eyes and pain to my soul. As a student learning the German language, I do not feel any resentment towards the present day government of its people because I know that they have learned their lesson and will never forget it. On the other hand, hopefully, neither will the rest of the world. I think I will always remember the presentation that I saw during my junior year at Clements High School. The shocking images and sounds will always be with me until the day that I die. The most appalling thing about the entire presentation, to me was the part where the veteran mentioned the phrase: Arbeit macht frei. Work was a means of getting the most productivity out of a weakening soul. When they were to tired and weary to work, a bullet in the head was an easy solution. Auschwitz. Dachau. Buchenwald. Three atrocities that were a meaningless scapegoat for on sick individual, and eventually, for an entire nation. There are those that don't believe that the Holocaust ever took place. How can that be when so many records and so much proof has been presented to them? I guess I must dismiss their opinion as a cry for attention that should be given to those who suffered through the most dangerous and costly war in history.
Arbeit hat tot gemacht!
(Work made death)Thank you for the awful/wonderful reminder.